Savage AXIS II Question

[Niccom]

What do you think the best way to go about mounting it is? Also what scope would you recommend for a .308 version. I'd use it for targets, and hunting. Pref sub $400.

[NorCalFocus]

I like one piece rail bases.

[mcisniper]

http://warnescopemounts.com/

Nikon M-308

[Divernhunter]

Leupold 3X9X40 duplex reticle since you plan to hunt. It also works fine at the range.
Leupold or weaver mounts are fine

[Shakey]

Savage sells an Axis II combo with a 3-9 Weaver scope for $429. It's decent for hunting, my buddy has one in 30-06.

[73Jim]

Actually Big 5 has the Axis II, with scope, on sale (ends today I think) for $399. Add the 10% off coupon and a $50 mail in rebate from savage and you will be $365 otd after rebate. They had a few in 270 as well.

[Horrendo Revolver]

I sell firearms and scopes for Cabela's. I also mount scopes at work and mount them as a side business.

The scopes on Savage and Ruger package rifles seem like very low end scopes that are made to a low price point. The bases are fine but the ring quality seems lacking too. And rings are normally the first point of failure on a rifle/scope set-up in my experience. In an economical scope I would go for a Nikon Buck Master or Burris Fullfield II in a 3-9x40, the Burris being my first choice. For your eyes the Nikon might be better. If I were going to step up I would probably go with a VX-2. I didn't mention Vortex. Vortex has a legion of followers and has excellent customer service. For all intents and purposes they copied Leupold. I owned two Vipers at one time. For my eyes they were worse in low light than any scope I've used in that price range and sometimes lower. The eye relief also seemed shorter. If you caught on that I use the phrase, "for my eyes", it is because I've found that most people see better out of certain brands of scopes. For me I don't see as well out of Nikon and Vortex. Another scope I like is the Bushnell in their various iterations of the Elite series.

For many years I used Warne two piece bases and rings if possible. If the receiver wasn't drilled and tapped straight then I use Leupold Std bases and rings because of the coarse windage adjustment feature on the rear base. It is at the same time the best and worst feature of the Leupold mounting system, you can adjust for windage but the rings have been known to come lose on the rear base.

I've finally started using EGW bases with Warne rings most of the time. If you do use EGW just make sure you pay the extra couple of dollars and get the Torx head mounting screws instead of the Allan heads.

I prefer the look of traditional bases over EGW but with the EGW you never have to worry about mounting latitude. There are more expensive one piece multi-slot mounts out there but the EGW works fine for me. I haven't had any issues with Blackhawk bases either.

Another advantage to a one piece base is if you have to shim. Shimming a scope with two piece bases places stress on the scope tube but does not when using a one piece.

One word on Weaver Rings. They are very sturdy and hold up well. But since one side of the ring top dovetails into the ring lower you only have a screw on one side. This makes leveling the reticle a pain compared to other types of rings.